VIDEO: Mayor of Hawkins denies official oppression charge

HAWKINS, Texas (AP) — An East Texas mayor says he was falsely arrested on an official oppression charge and just offered to help a resident get her yard cleaned up.

Hawkins Mayor Will Rogers on Thursday said he was responding to complaints from neighbors when he stopped by the home July 10.

Rogers, who took office in May, says he explained the town's nuisance ordinance and offered to have volunteers help the woman clean her property.

Rogers was arrested Monday on the misdemeanor charge and freed on $1,000 bond. An arrest affidavit says Rogers told the resident to clean up her yard or he'd ticket and fine her. Code enforcement officials later said the woman's grass did not violate rules.

Rogers on Thursday said he knows the mayor is not authorized to write tickets.